The language of politics reminds one of the old baseball manager, Leo Durocher, who was known to echo the words that "nice guys finish last"! It is said that he would coach his players to slide into a base with spikes high to gain the strategic advantage and to cause fear in the opponent. His philosophy regarding the "game" of baseball was to do whatever it took to win!
It seems we find a similar philosophy in politics as it unfolds today. A phrase in our discourse is "The Politics of Personal Destruction." Lower tier politicians and presidential "wanna-be-types" hurl all kinds of charges at the upper tier. They do so with the hope they may dislodge the front-runner and move up in the Polls themselves. It means that the public is somewhat cheated when charges and accusations are bandied about and meaningful dialogue about major issues in the country and world are ignored and/or bypassed altogether. The modern politician appears to follow a course where it appears that throwing jello at a wall is valid because some of it may stick and cause some injury to a political opponent.
One wonders if the prophet Jeremiah might have had American politics in mind when he stated in
Jeremiah 9:5, "Everyone deceives his neighbor and does not speak the truth. They have taught their tongues to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity." On the other hand, the admonition of The Apostle Paul declares, "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another."
Is it any wonder that cynicism prevails with many? The philosophical argument abounds in terms of who can actually define "truth"! To expect people to think syllogistically and to formulate a premise in a concise statement is difficult at best, and unlikely at worst. It borders on the old humorous statement, "don't confuse me with the facts!" And so, we proceed down the path that Robert Bork referred to in the title of his book, "Slouching Toward Gomorrah"! If that was a valid premise in 1997 when he authored his tome, how much further have we come on that road in 2007.
Self-examination is a risky business because it is almost impossible for one to be in disagreement with oneself. Introspection just cannot be objective. However, being open to the evaluations by others is also remote. In a "politically correct" environment and our tendency toward narcissism, we just continue along on the slippery slope of self-indulgence and and personal gratification.
There is a fascinating Biblical account in I Kings 22:16. King Ahab wants full participation by all the prophets so he can have justification for engaging an enemy. When Micaiah agrees with the false prophets, King Ahab says to him, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?" The King will ignore the "truth" spoken by the true prophet of the Lord and confine Micaiah in his cell with bread and water for his sustenance. King Ahab never would return from the battle. The truth had been spoken - and - ignored!
It is incumbent upon all of us to sort through the waves of political verbiage in order to seek and find the truth. It would be wise to compare what is said with the historical records and documents that prove or disprove what people have said and done during their political journey. Ask yourself - and those addressing the nation in their pursuit of office - what was meant by their previous declarations and actions. Also, why they have suddenly and conveniently changed positions on major concerns in our nation. Is it just a matter of doing anything that it takes to get elected? Is it based on the philosophy that "nice guys finish last"?
May God help us to see through and beyond the "smoke, mirrors, vagaries and deliberate misrepresentations" of those who will do whatever it takes to win!
It seems we find a similar philosophy in politics as it unfolds today. A phrase in our discourse is "The Politics of Personal Destruction." Lower tier politicians and presidential "wanna-be-types" hurl all kinds of charges at the upper tier. They do so with the hope they may dislodge the front-runner and move up in the Polls themselves. It means that the public is somewhat cheated when charges and accusations are bandied about and meaningful dialogue about major issues in the country and world are ignored and/or bypassed altogether. The modern politician appears to follow a course where it appears that throwing jello at a wall is valid because some of it may stick and cause some injury to a political opponent.
One wonders if the prophet Jeremiah might have had American politics in mind when he stated in
Jeremiah 9:5, "Everyone deceives his neighbor and does not speak the truth. They have taught their tongues to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity." On the other hand, the admonition of The Apostle Paul declares, "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another."Is it any wonder that cynicism prevails with many? The philosophical argument abounds in terms of who can actually define "truth"! To expect people to think syllogistically and to formulate a premise in a concise statement is difficult at best, and unlikely at worst. It borders on the old humorous statement, "don't confuse me with the facts!" And so, we proceed down the path that Robert Bork referred to in the title of his book, "Slouching Toward Gomorrah"! If that was a valid premise in 1997 when he authored his tome, how much further have we come on that road in 2007.
Self-examination is a risky business because it is almost impossible for one to be in disagreement with oneself. Introspection just cannot be objective. However, being open to the evaluations by others is also remote. In a "politically correct" environment and our tendency toward narcissism, we just continue along on the slippery slope of self-indulgence and and personal gratification.
There is a fascinating Biblical account in I Kings 22:16. King Ahab wants full participation by all the prophets so he can have justification for engaging an enemy. When Micaiah agrees with the false prophets, King Ahab says to him, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?" The King will ignore the "truth" spoken by the true prophet of the Lord and confine Micaiah in his cell with bread and water for his sustenance. King Ahab never would return from the battle. The truth had been spoken - and - ignored!
It is incumbent upon all of us to sort through the waves of political verbiage in order to seek and find the truth. It would be wise to compare what is said with the historical records and documents that prove or disprove what people have said and done during their political journey. Ask yourself - and those addressing the nation in their pursuit of office - what was meant by their previous declarations and actions. Also, why they have suddenly and conveniently changed positions on major concerns in our nation. Is it just a matter of doing anything that it takes to get elected? Is it based on the philosophy that "nice guys finish last"?
May God help us to see through and beyond the "smoke, mirrors, vagaries and deliberate misrepresentations" of those who will do whatever it takes to win!
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